Senior Congress leader Kumari Selja on Monday declined Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s invitation to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), amid speculation about internal party discord ahead of the Haryana elections.
The 61-year-old, a key Dalit leader in the Congress, urged BJP leaders to avoid giving her unsolicited advice.
“Congress is in my veins. Just as my father was draped in the party flag, so will I be when I depart,” Selja declared at an AajTak event. She emphasized that there is no unrest within Congress, but acknowledged that the party is addressing some internal matters as part of its ongoing development.
“There are always internal discussions that aren’t for public consumption. The party is progressing, and these are normal decision-making processes,” she explained.
Following reports that Selja had distanced herself from the election campaign, former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar invited her to join the BJP, suggesting that the party was open to her joining.
“There is our Dalit sister… staying at home. Many people, including those who were once upset with us, have joined our party. We are open to bringing her into our fold if she chooses to join,” Khattar said.
After securing a victory in the Sirsa Lok Sabha constituency, Selja had earlier expressed her interest in contesting the upcoming assembly elections, but was not selected by the party’s high command.
